Did you know that 80% of men are affected by male pattern baldness by the age of 80 [1]? Your hair can make a big difference to your self-confidence, so it’s no surprise that many men decide to get a hair transplant when their hair starts to thin out significantly.
If you’re considering a hair transplant, you may have to choose between FUE vs DHI. FUE stands for follicular unit extraction, and DHI stands for direct hair implantation. These are two of the most common types of hair transplant in the UK, but there’s a lot of conflicting information which can make it hard to choose between them.
FUE (follicular unit extraction) is a hair transplant procedure where groups of healthy hair follicles are removed – usually from the back or sides of the head – and reimplanted into bald or thinning areas of the scalp.
A surgeon extracts hair follicles using an FUE punch tool that makes tiny holes to obtain grafts of skin containing 1-4 hair follicles. The punch tool is usually less than 1mm in diameter, so the surgical incisions are tiny.
This is good news for people with hair transplant trypophobia (a fear of small holes that could be caused by an FUE transplant) because the punch sites are very subtle. FUE hair transplantation can create natural results and offers speedy hair transplant recovery times with minimal scarring.
DHI (direct hair implantation) is a newer version of FUE hair transplant surgery that has recently gained popularity among those worried about hair loss. Hair follicles are loaded into an implant device called a Choi Implanter Pen, which is extremely sensitive and precise, so surgeons don’t need to manually create the incisions.
The pen can also implant hair follicles directly into the recipient area at a precise angle and depth. The process itself is very similar to the FUE hair transplant procedure, and you can enjoy an equally short recovery with minimal scarring.
Both FUE and DHI can offer impressive results. Here, we’ll share some transformation photos for both methods.
These FUE photos are from our hair transplant before and after gallery, which demonstrates the skill of surgeons at the Wimpole Clinic.
This image shows a 1600 graft FUE hair transplant. The first image shows the hairline before surgery with the planned hairline drawn on, and the second shows 12 months after surgery. The area of frontal balding now has thick, healthy hair growth.
This FUE transplant used 800 grafts to create full coverage for a bald spot on the crown. Like many FUE transplants performed by skilled surgeons, this is a natural-looking hair transplant, and it’s impossible to tell that this patient has had surgery.
This photo shows a woman with scalp scarring 8 months after her FUE hair transplant. She received 1500 grafts, which restored a natural-looking hairline.
A hair transplant into scar tissue is often more challenging than a regular transplant because scars are accompanied by poor blood circulation and increased tissue stiffness [2]. However, as demonstrated here, it can be very effective when performed by an experienced surgeon.
DHI hair transplants can also offer excellent results. Here are some before and after photos:
This image [3] shows a 51-year-old patient who received a DHI hair transplant for male pattern baldness. Within 12 months, he went from a Norwood stage 4 (first photo) to a full head of thick, healthy hair with a natural-looking hairline (second photo).
These photos [3] show the transformation of a 38-year-old patient with androgenetic alopecia at Norwood stage 5. The first image shows his hair before the DHI transplant. The second shows his scalp immediately after surgery, and the third shows his results after 12 months.
The main difference between the two hair transplant procedures is how the hair is extracted and re-implanted. The surgeon takes grafts manually during an FUE hair transplant, whereas during a DHI hair transplant, they’re done using a specialised tool. During DHI surgery, extraction and implantation can happen immediately without requiring surgeons to create channels for the grafts first.
DHI and FUE transplants are often preferred to a FUT hair transplant, as they’re slightly cheaper and reduce the risk of scarring associated with strip surgery. However, FUT is still the best option for some people, such as those who need many grafts or require an Afro hair transplant.
Since DHI is much newer, many people claim that a DHI hair transplant is the most advanced and effective option. However, few studies have proved its superiority over other transplant options, and there is still debate about the most effective transplant method [4].
In most cases, DHI is usually recommended for people under the age of 35. This is because hair loss is typically less advanced in younger people, which means a higher chance of success.
Many patients may prefer FUE as the maximum number of grafts that can be implanted with DHI is 4000, whereas the FUE method can cover much larger areas. For this reason, DHI is normally preferred to treat smaller, specific sections of hair loss, whereas FUE is better when there’s more significant balding.
According to experts, the average success rates of both treatments are around 95% [5]. Both transplant methods are very good for people who want natural-looking results [6] with minimal scarring.
With an FUE transplant, it will take around 3-4 months to notice new hair growth and 10-12 months before the final results become visible [7]. DHI results are very similar.
FUE and DHI are both popular hair transplant methods that can provide similar, natural-looking results. However, the ideal candidate varies slightly for each type of surgery. Let’s explore who might be best suited for each procedure.
You may be a good candidate for an FUE hair transplant if:
DHI is similar to FUE in many ways, although it may not be suitable if you need a large number of grafts. However, there are some factors which differ. DHI may be chosen if:
Both FUE and DHI hair transplants offer excellent solutions for hair loss. FUE remains particularly popular as it is suitable for people of all ages and can cover larger areas of the scalp.
If you’re wondering whether an FUE hair transplant (UK) is right for you, our experienced trichologists can help. An assessment with one of our hair doctors may include blood tests for hair loss, a hair pull test, and other diagnostic trichology tests to get to the root of your symptoms.
If you’re a candidate for a transplant, we work with some of the best hair transplant surgeons in the UK — their work is often so natural-looking that you can get a hair transplant without anyone knowing. Book a consultation at one of our clinic locations today and find out whether this procedure is right for you.
Advocates of DHI claim it is more effective because it’s a newer method and uses a precise tool for harvesting and implanting. However, there is currently no research to support this, and there is ongoing debate regarding which is the best method out of DHI vs FUE [13].
DHI is often the most expensive type of hair transplant. This is because it requires the use of specialised tools and must be performed by a surgeon with special training in using them. It may also take longer than FUE, meaning more hours are billed by the surgeon and medical team.
As with FUE, tiny scars are left at the donor site when hair is harvested using the DHI method. In these small areas of scar tissue, hair will not grow back. However, a skilled surgeon will ensure these scars are placed strategically so they are invisible, thanks to surrounding hair growth.
DHI works best for smaller areas of hair loss and is therefore not usually recommended for advanced male or female pattern baldness. It can also be more time-consuming than FUE, so it may not be the best option if a longer procedure is an issue.
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